How to Schedule an Email in Outlook

To schedule an email in Outlook, write your message, open the menu beside Send, and choose Schedule send in new Outlook or Outlook on the web. In classic Outlook for Windows, use Options > Delay Delivery and set a delivery time. The message is held until then, which is useful for working ahead, sending during business hours, or coordinating across time zones.

Outlook’s menus differ by version, so first identify whether you are using new Outlook, classic Outlook for Windows, Outlook on the web, or Outlook for Mac. The instructions below cover each version where the process differs. Scheduling is not the same as leaving a message open as a draft: you must choose the scheduled-send option or set a delivery delay, then confirm that the message is queued.

What You’ll Need

An Outlook account and access to the mailbox you want to send from.
A drafted email, including the recipients and subject. You can schedule a message with attachments, but finish uploading or attaching them before scheduling.
The correct date, time, and time zone for delivery. If you are coordinating with someone elsewhere, check their local time rather than assuming it matches yours.
An internet connection to schedule the message in new Outlook, Outlook on the web, or Outlook for Mac. Classic Outlook for Windows has an additional requirement described below.

Step-by-Step

Open the right Outlook version. Start a new message in the Outlook app or sign in to Outlook on the web. In Windows, new Outlook and classic Outlook have different scheduling controls. If your app has a File tab and the traditional desktop ribbon, it is likely classic Outlook; the newer interface has a simplified toolbar and does not use the classic Delay Delivery dialog. If you are unsure, try the steps for your interface and use the troubleshooting section if a control is missing.
Compose the email and check its details. Enter the recipient or recipients, a clear subject, and the message text. Add attachments now, then confirm that each one is attached and has finished uploading. Check the To, Cc, and Bcc fields carefully. Scheduling will not fix an incorrect address, missing attachment, or unfinished draft; it will send the message as composed unless you reopen it and make a change before delivery.
In new Outlook for Windows or Outlook on the web, open the Send menu. Select the small arrow or dropdown beside the Send button, not the main Send button. Choose Schedule send. Depending on the version or account, Outlook may offer suggested times as well as a custom scheduling option. Choose a suggestion only if its date and time are suitable.
Choose a delivery time in new Outlook or on the web. Select Custom time or the equivalent option to enter a specific date and time. Pick the intended day and time, check the time zone shown by your device or account, and confirm the selection. Outlook returns you to the message or shows a confirmation; follow any final prompt to schedule it. Do not click the main Send button afterward unless you mean to send it immediately.
In classic Outlook for Windows, open the delay settings. With the message open in its own compose window, go to the Options tab on the ribbon. In the More Options group, select Delay Delivery. If the button is not visible, expand the ribbon or look for the group’s dialog launcher. In the Delivery options area, check Do not deliver before, then set the date and time you want Outlook to send the email. Select Close to return to the message.
Send the delayed message in classic Outlook. Select Send as usual. The message is placed in the Outbox and held until the date and time you set. Keep classic Outlook open and connected to the internet until it sends; this traditional delay method generally depends on the desktop app being running and online at the scheduled time. If you close Outlook or go offline, the message may wait until Outlook is running and connected again. For scheduling that should happen without leaving classic Outlook open, use new Outlook or Outlook on the web if available for your account.
In Outlook for Mac, use the scheduling control if available. Compose the message, then open the dropdown beside Send and select Schedule Send or Schedule send. Choose a suggested or custom date and time, confirm it, and check for Outlook’s scheduling confirmation. The exact label and placement can vary with the Outlook for Mac update and account type. If you do not see a schedule option, update Outlook or schedule the message in Outlook on the web instead.
Verify that the email is queued. Look for a scheduled-message confirmation and check the relevant mailbox folder. Depending on your Outlook version and account, the message may appear in a Scheduled folder, Drafts, or, in classic Outlook for Windows, the Outbox. Open the queued message if you need to confirm its recipient, content, or delivery time. Folder names and where scheduled messages appear are not identical in every Outlook interface.
Change or cancel it before delivery if needed. Find and open the scheduled message, then use the available edit, cancel, or unschedule option. In many versions, cancelling the schedule returns the email to a draft so you can revise it or delete it. In classic Outlook, open the message in the Outbox and change or remove the delivery delay before sending or deleting it. The exact controls vary, so make sure the scheduled time has not already passed before relying on a cancellation.

Common Mistakes

Choosing the wrong Send control: In new Outlook and on the web, clicking the main Send button sends immediately. Use the small dropdown beside it to schedule. In classic Outlook, clicking Send is correct only after you have set Do not deliver before.

Closing classic Outlook too soon: A message held in classic Outlook’s Outbox may not leave at the chosen time if the app is closed or offline. This is different from server-based scheduling in new Outlook or Outlook on the web. If you need the message to send while your computer is off, use a server-based scheduling option when your account supports it.

Misreading the time zone or date: A time that seems right in your current location may be wrong for a recipient elsewhere. Check the calendar date as well as the clock time, especially when scheduling near midnight or around daylight-saving changes.

Assuming a draft is scheduled: A message saved in Drafts has not necessarily been scheduled. Look for a confirmation and a scheduled time. Also check that attachments have uploaded and that the intended account is in the From field if you use more than one mailbox.

Tips

Schedule a few minutes after the time you expect to finish reviewing the email, rather than setting a delivery time that is already close. That gives you a chance to catch a typo, remove an unintended recipient, or confirm an attachment. For messages with sensitive or changing details, consider scheduling earlier in the day so you have time to verify that the information is still current before it goes out.

When sending to people in different regions, write down the recipient’s local delivery time before selecting a date in Outlook. If the message is time-sensitive, include a clear subject and avoid scheduling at a time when the recipient is likely to miss it. For recurring announcements, keep a separate checklist of recipients, attachments, and dates; Outlook’s scheduled-send feature is for an individual message, not a recurring email campaign.

If you change devices after scheduling, use the same mailbox account to check the message. A server-scheduled message should generally remain associated with that mailbox, but the folder or status displayed can differ across Outlook versions. For a classic Outlook delay, leave the Windows app available and online until the message has actually left the Outbox.

Troubleshooting

There is no Schedule send option. Confirm that you opened the dropdown beside Send, rather than clicking the button itself. In classic Outlook for Windows, use Options > Delay Delivery instead. If you are in new Outlook or Outlook for Mac and the option is still missing, update the app, check that you are signed in to the intended account, or use Outlook on the web. Some controls can differ by account type or organizational settings.

The email did not send at the scheduled time. First check whether it is still present in the Scheduled, Drafts, or Outbox folder. In classic Outlook for Windows, make sure Outlook is open, connected, and not showing a work-offline status; reconnect and allow it to send. For new Outlook or the web, refresh the mailbox and check the scheduled message’s status. If it remains queued, open it and confirm the date, time, and time zone, then reschedule it if the controls allow.

The message went immediately instead. Check whether you selected the main Send button instead of the dropdown, or whether the classic message was sent before setting a delay. If a message has already left the mailbox, scheduling cannot undo delivery. If your organization supports message recall, its availability and success depend on the recipient’s mailbox and other conditions, so do not rely on it as a substitute for checking before sending.

You need to edit the email but cannot find it. Search the same mailbox for a distinctive phrase in the subject, then check the scheduled-message area, Drafts, and Outbox as appropriate for your version. If it is in the Outbox, Outlook may need to be online before it can be opened or changed. If the message is no longer queued, it may already have been sent; check Sent Items before composing a replacement to avoid sending a duplicate.

The time appears to have shifted. Compare the scheduled time with the time zone and date settings on the device or account used to create it. Daylight-saving changes and travel can make a scheduled time look different across devices. Open the queued message and verify its delivery time in the same Outlook interface where you scheduled it; revise it if the displayed time is not what you intended.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I schedule an email in Outlook when my computer is off?

With new Outlook, Outlook on the web, or a supported Outlook for Mac scheduling feature, scheduling is handled through the mailbox service, so you generally do not need to leave the app open. Classic Outlook for Windows’ Delay Delivery method generally requires Outlook to be running and connected when the message is due to send.

Can I schedule an email from Outlook on the web?

Yes. Compose the message, open the dropdown beside Send, select Schedule send, choose a suggested or custom time, and confirm. Check for a confirmation and verify the queued message in the mailbox afterward.

Can I schedule a message with an attachment?

Yes. Add the attachment before scheduling and make sure it has finished uploading. Open the queued message, if available, to verify that the attachment is present before the delivery time.

Can I change the scheduled time or message?

Usually, yes, as long as it has not been sent. Open the queued message and choose the available edit, cancel, or unschedule control; revise the draft and schedule it again. In classic Outlook for Windows, edit or remove the delay on the message in the Outbox.

Will Outlook send a scheduled email if I close the browser?

For server-based scheduling in Outlook on the web, closing the browser should not stop the scheduled message from being sent. That is not the same as classic Outlook for Windows’ client-dependent Delay Delivery method, which generally needs the desktop app open and online.

Can I schedule an email from Outlook on my phone?

Scheduling options can vary by Outlook mobile app version and account. If you see a scheduling option in the send menu, choose it and confirm the time. If it is unavailable, use Outlook on the web or a desktop version that offers scheduled send, then verify the message is queued.

Try it: the Date Difference Calculator: days, months, years and weekdays between two dates, with the DATEDIF formulas.

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